The sum milk yield (L) and mean milk yield (L, mean±SEM) observed in dairy cows (n=8) before HimChelate supplementation (baseline) in G were 85.16 and 10.64±1.34, respectively. A gradual increase in milk yield was recorded upon the supplementation of HimChelate in concentrated feed to dairy cows over 4 weeks compared with baseline values. The mean milk yield in G on the baseline and during the treatment period,
i.e., week 1, week 2, week 3 and week 4, was 10.64±1.34 and 10.72±1.36, 10.76±1.35, 10.79±1.37 and 10.73±1.40, respectively. The sum milk yield was increased moderately in G during the treatment period compared with that on the baseline throughout the treatment period,
i.e., 0.58 L (week 1), 0.93 L (week 2), 1.20 L (week 3) and 0.68 L (week 4). However, the mean milk yield (L, mean±SEM) and the sum milk yield (L) were reduced after the supplementation period of HimChelate at 30 g/day/cow (G) compared with that on the baseline,
i.e., 10.64±1.34
vs. 10.53±1.40 and -0.88, respectively (Table 1).
The impact of HimChelate on assessment parameters, such as milk yield, fat and SNF in dairy cows showed that mean milk yield (L) was increased by 1.03% following the supplementation of HimChelate at 30 g (G) once daily per cow. Conversely, fat and SNF percentages were increased by 4.41% and 0.25% following the supplementation of HimChelate at 30 g (G), respectively (Table 2 and Fig 1). Furthermore, the results of milk SCC depicted that before the supplementation of HimChelate (day 0), milk SCC was almost 8100000 cells/mL. However, the supplementation of HimChelate caused a slight reduction in milk SCC as early as day 3 (5100000 cells/mL). Conversely, a major reduction in milk SCC count was observed from day 9,
i.e., 900000 cells/mL and maintained milk SCC of 300000 cells/mL from days 12-21 (Fig 2).
Overall, the findings of our investigation depicted that the supplementation of HimChelate at a dose of 30 g/day/cow was better in terms of augmentation of milk production and improvement of milk quality.
Organic minerals have several beneficial effects, such as production enhancement, increased milk yield quality and reproductive efficiency in ruminants
(Marques et al., 2016; Hackbart et al., 2010). The progressive effects of organic minerals on animal performance seem mainly due to higher bioavailability than inorganic sources. Several research activities conducted in different livestock species using the vibrant sources of different mineral elements revealed significant differences in the bioavailability of organic and inorganic minerals
(Wang et al., 2010; Feng et al., 2010; Yatoo et al., 2013). Thus, the primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of chelated organic mineral mixture “HimChelate” (developed by Himalaya Wellness Company) on milk production, fat and SNF percentage and milk somatic cell counts in lactating dairy cattle under field conditions.
In this study, milk yield (L) was increased by 1.03% following the supplementation of HimChelate at 30 g/day/cow. Simultaneously, fat and SNF percentages increased by 4.41% and 0.25% following the supplementation of HimChelate at 30 g, respectively. These findings were comparable with the results of several other researchers reported in the literature.
Hackbart et al., (2010) and
Somkuwar et al., (2011) reported that binding Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn with amino acids and peptides could boost the bioavailability of these trace minerals, thereby improving milk production of livestock. The effect on milk supplementing cows with organic trace minerals in place of inorganic minerals increased milk yield and milk fat level
(Marques et al., 2016; Hackbart et al., 2010). With the same level of supplementation to cows: Zn (15 mg/kg), Mn (20 mg/kg) and Cu (10 mg/kg) from chelated sources resulted in higher milk yield (11%), milk fatand protein percentages (both approximately 7%) than those of inorganic sources (
El Ashry et al., 2012).
Hassan et al., (2011) reported that supplementation with 40% less Zn from chelated sources in ewes increased milk yield by 12% and protein and fat production by 26% and 31% in comparison with those of inorganic zinc sulfate sources. In cows in late lactation, less mineral supplementation to a tone of 40% from chelated sources resulted in a 4% increase in milk yield when compared with 100% inorganic minerals
Somkuwar et al., (2011). Improvement in milk production and component can be partially attributed to improved udder health and reduction of somatic cell count.
Sobhinard et al., (2010) reported that somatic cell count was reduced by adding Zn methionine complex to the diet; this implies that Zn methionine plays an integral role in immune function by activating T-lymphocyte responsiveness, thus impacting the effectiveness of somatic cells within the mammary gland.
Furthermore, improvement in milk yield in our study following the supplementation of HimChelate could be attributed to the herbal galactogogues, such as Shatavari (
Asparagus racemosus), Amalaki and Methi (
Trigonella foenum-graecum), present in HimChelate. Galactagogue is a substance that encourages dairy cows to produce milk. They work by inhibiting hypothalamic dopaminergic receptors or dopamine-producing neurons, which influences the adreno-hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal axis. By inhibiting dopamine receptors, these drugs boost prolactin production
(Patel et al., 2016). Galactogogues increase secretory activity and thereby restore and regulate milk production by stimulating alveolar tissue activity (
Ravikumar and Bhagwat, 2008). Different herbs can be used as a component of animal feed to improve animal productivity. Plants with galactagogue characteristics, such as Shatavari (
Asparagus racemosus), Jivanti (
Leptadenia reticulata)and Methi (
Trigonella foenum-graecum), are commonly utilized as animal feed additives nowadays
(Patel et al., 2016).
Shatavari’s pharmacology is galactagogue and mammogenic in general. It raises blood prolactin levels and encourages mammary gland cellular division (
Ravikumar and Bhagwat 2008). Supplementing lactating crossbred cows with Galactin (50 g/day/animal), a Shatavari-based polyherbal galactagogue, enhanced milk output (
Mirzaei and Venkatesh, 2012). In buffaloes and crossbred cows, the feeding herbal formulation contains 25% Shatavari-enhanced milk production (25.10 per cent) as well as a considerable boost in daily milk yield. Furthermore, polyherbal supplementation with Shatavari at 150-200 mg/kg body weight improves fat, protein, lactoseand SNF yield in Karanfries cows during supplementation, residual and post residual periods in fed-group controls (
Sharma, 2010). In crossbred cattle, supplementing with Milkplus, a Shatavari-based herbal treatment, increased milk output from 8.26 to 10.11 L/day
(Sukanya et al., 2014). Similarly, Methi (
Trigonella foenum-graecum) has been used as a galactagogue for millennia. Furthermore, this herb has been demonstrated to have a considerable impact on ruminant lactation performance
(Tabares et al., 2014). Fenugreek supports milk production as it is a rich source of essential fatty acids
Patel et al., (2017). Supplementing milk with fenugreek seeds improves the composition of cow’s milk. Furthermore, fenugreek seed, which contains phytoestrogens, which are plant chemicals similar to the female sex hormone estrogen, an essential compound, diosgenin, has been experimentally shown to upsurge milk flow and increase daily return by supplementation of Shatavari, Jivantiand fenugreek in equal proportion at the dose rate of 60 g/day in lactating Kankrej cows
(Patel et al., 2017).
In this study, there was a major reduction in milk SCC following the supplementation of HimChelate for nine consecutive days. This could be due to the bioavailability of chelated minerals of HimChelate especially Zn, Cu and Se, since study report shows that the supplementation of organic sources of Zn, Cu and Se to dairy cows reduced subclinical mastitis cases through decreasing milk SCC without altering the serum levels of antioxidant enzymes (
Gayathri and Panda, 2018). Moreover, the herb Shatavari (
Asparagus racemosus) in HimChelate possesses antibacterial properties against mastitis, causing
Streptococci, Coliform,
Klebsiella,
Pseudomonas (Pandey
et al., 2018).
The supplementation of inorganic chromium is difficult because of its poor bioavailability in the feeds (
Gayathri and Panda, 2018). Due to this situation, several products based on organic chromium such as Chelated Cr, Cr enriched yeast, Cr-picolinate, Cr-nicotinate have been developed to improve the bioavailability of chromium (
Overton and Yasui, 2014). In ruminant nutrition, Cr plays an important role, especially under stressful conditions, such as stress during transport or stress at the onset of lactation. Some researchers have reported higher performance in calves supplemented with Cr in Cr yeast, Cr chelated during stress
(Rao et al., 2012).
Moreover,
Bhagwat et al., (2021) recommended developing phytogenic feed additives as a cocktail of organic minerals to improve the overall health status of poultry birds and augment their productivity. Following their concept, HimChelate was developed by Himalaya Wellness Company, Bengaluru, India, to augment the productivity of dairy cows and enhance milk quality. It is mainly composed of chelated minerals and other trace minerals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Co, K, Fe, Mg, Cr, Na, Ca and P) and vitamins (A, D3, Eand niacinamide) fortified with herbs, namely, Shatavari (
Asparagus racemosus), Amalaki and Methi (
Trigonella foenum-graecum). Overall, our study findings indicate that the supplementation of HimChelate impacted the augmentation of milk production and improved milk quality parameters in dairy cows.
